Apparatus for weight-classifying odd-shaped articles

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for weight-classifying odd-shaped articles, wherein a plurality of open-topped carrier buckets having hinged bottoms adapted when closed to support articles thereon are continuously passed sequentially through a filling station at which articles are positioned in the buckets, a weighing station at which the articles are weighed, and a discharge classifying station at which the bottom of each bucket is opened to discharge an article into one of a plurality of article takeoff conveyors on the basis of its previously recorded weight.

I United States Patent [151 3,640,384 Del Rosso 1 Feb. 8, 1972 [541APPARATUS FOR WEIGHT- 2,980,252 4/1961 Bray etal ..209/l2l CLASSIFYINGODD-SHAPED ARTICLES 3,220,547 11/1965 Krupotich ..209/121 X [72]Inventor: Victor Del Russo, Ithaca, N.Y. Prima'y Examiner A"en N.Knowles [73] Assignee: Iii-Speed Checkweigher Co., Inc., Ithaca,AtIomeyBean&Bean

22 Filed: July 10,1969 [571 ABSTRACT An apparatus for weight-classifyingodd-shaped articles, [21] 84o669 wherein a plurality of open-toppedcarrier buckets having hinged bottoms adapted when closed to supportarticles U-S- M, thereon are continuously sequentially through a [Sl]Int. Cl ..B07c 5/28 station at which articles are positioned in thebuckets a [58] Field ofSearch ..209/74, 73, 12]; 177/52, 59, weighingstation at which the anides are weighed and a 163 discharge classifyingstation at which the bottom of each bucket is opened to discharge anarticle into one of a plurality [56] References CIM of article takeofi'conveyors on the basis of its previously UNITED STATES PATENTS recordeds 2,308,729 1/1943 Walter ..209/l2l l3 Claims,8Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB 8872 1340 3384 sum-in 2 OF 4 I N VENT OR. V/c' 70A DEL ,Qosso ATTORNEYS PATENTED rm emz 3,640,384

' sum 3 or 4 l N VEN TOR. V/C 7'02 DEL Posso amma A TTORNFYS APPARATUSFOR WEIGHT-CLASSIFYING ODD-SHAPED ARTICLES SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention is primarily directed towards an apparatus forweight-classifying odd-shaped articles, including by way of examplemetal castings or stampings and food products, such as chicken legs andlobster tails. The apparatus employs a plurality of carrier bucketshaving open tops and hingedly supported bottoms, which when closed areadapted to support an odd-shaped article within the bucket.

In the preferred form of the present invention, a plurality of bucketsare continuously passed through a closed loop sequentially through afilling station at which articles to be weight classified are disposedone in each of the buckets, a weighing station at which the buckets andtheir contents are individually weighed, and a discharge classifyingstation at which the bottom of each bucket is opened in order todischarge articles onto one of a plurality of article takeoff conveyorson the basis of the previously recorded weight of the article. Thenumber of takeofi conveyors employed is determined by the number ofseparate weight classes or ranges into which the articles are to beclassified.

The closed-loop form of the present system is particularly advantageouswhen food products are to be classified, since additional carrier bucketcleaning and drying stations may be readily arranged between thedischarge classifying and filling stations to insure purity of the foodproducts.

Further, the present system permits classification on the basis ofplural article or package weights, that is, when two or more articles,such as chicken legs, are to be packaged as a unit, such articles may beplaced together in one bucket.

The carrier buckets employed in the present invention are of a noveldesign, which permits articles to be quickly deposited in and dischargedtherefrom, and the tare weights of the buckets to be individuallyadjusted to insure uniformity of bucket weights without requiring themaintenance of costly tolerances in the manufacture of the buckets.

Further, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided anovelly designed mechanical memory drum assembly, which serves to recordthe weights of successively presented articles and control operation ofthe discharge classifying station in accordance therewith.

DRAWINGS tice of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a carrier bucket moving through thedischarge classifying station of the apparatus with parts removed forclarity;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the mechanical memory drum;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the discharge classifying station controlsystem;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the drive interconnection betweenthe carrier bucket rotary timer and the mechanical memory drum; and

FIGS. 7a and 7b are sectional views taken generally along the line 7-7in FIG. 4, but showing alternative positions of the setting pin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The apparatus of the present invention, which isgenerally designated as l in FIGS. 1 and 2, defines a closed-loop systemthrough which a plurality of carrier buckets 10 are passed for thepurpose of permitting weight classification of various types ofodd-shaped articles 12 transportable thereby. More particularly, theapparatus includes a rear transport table 13, which defines a fillingstation 14 at which articles 12 may be placed in buckets 10; a fronttransport table 15, which defines a weighing station 16 at which thebucket supported articles are weighed and a discharge classifyingstation 17 at which articles 12 are discharged from buckets 10 at spacedpoints therealong in accordance with the previously measured articleweights; and turn tables I8, 19, which serve to transfer buckets 10between adjacent ends of transport tables 13, 15. Transport tables l3,15 may be end supported, as by pedestals 20, and are preferablyinterconnected by brackets 22, 23, which cooperate with the transporttables to adjustably mount inner and outer bucket guides 24, 25. Turntables l8, 19 are rotatably mounted on pedestals 26 and are adapted tobe suitably driven, as by from transport table mounted electric motor27, via a drive linkage, not shown.

Carrier buckets 10 are best shown in FIG. 3 as including a pair ofspaced sidewalls 30, 31; spaced front and rear walls 32, 33 which areedge joined to the sidewalls to form a generally rectangular buckethaving an open top and bottom; and a bottom wall 34, which is hingedlyafiixed as at 35 to sidewall 30 and serves, when in bucket bottomclosing position, to support an article 12 within the bucket. Theforwardly and rearwardly extending marginal edges of bottom wall 34 aredeformed upwardly as indicated at 36a. The unhinged side marginal edge36b of bottom wall 34 is adapted to project beyond sidewall 31, therebypermitting bottom wall 34 when closed to support the bucket walls 30-33in a slightly spaced relationship above a bottom wall supportingsurface. When bucket 10 is thus supported, the upwardly curved forwardand rearward edges of bottom wall 34 permit the bucket to ride overvariations in elevations encountered during passage thereof about themachine.

Preferably, when articles to be classified are heavy metallic articles,at least the upwardly facing surface of bottom wall 34 is covered withresilient material, such as a sheet of rubber or the like, not shown,which forms a cushion for the articles deposited in the bucket. Eachbucket is also provided with generally L-shaped carrier bars 37, 38,which are suitably affixed one to each of sidewalls 30, 31,respectively. Carrier bars 37, 38 include horizontal flange portions39,40 having afiixed to the bottom surfaces thereof strips 41, 42 formedof wear resistant material, such as nylon. Suitably carried one on eachof carrier bars 37, 38 are receivers 43, 44, which define cavities 45,46 adapted to receive tare weight adjusting metal shot 45', 46'. Themetal shot may be sealed within the cavities by screw-type closures 47,48. It will be understood that the empty or tare weight of any carrierbucket may be adjusted to conform with that of like buckets to be usedin the apparatus by selectively adding metal shot to or removing it fromone or both of cavities 45, 46. It is contemplated that the design ofbottom wall 34 may be other than that specifically shown, as long as itserves the purpose of supporting an article when in closed position.Thus, the bottom wall may be of plural part construction, wherein theparts are individually hinge affixed to the body portion of the bucket.

Rear transport table 13 includes an endless belt conveyor 50, which istrained about table end supported drive and idler rollers 52, 53,respectively and adapted to support buckets 10 in a bottom wall closedcondition for movement continuously in the direction indicated by arrow54. Drive roller 52 may be suitably driven, as by motor 27 viatransmission means, not shown.

Articles to be classified may be manually or otherwise deposited incarrier buckets 10, while the latter are being transported by conveyor50. Alternatively, a suitable arresting mechanism, not shown, may beemployed to momentarily arrest the movement of the buckets in order tofacilitate depositing of articles therein. In instances wherein food orother readily contaminated products are to be weight classified, bucketsterilizing or washing and drying units may be placed adjacent the inletend of transport table 13, as indicated generally in phantom at 58 inFIG. 1, to permit thorough cleaning of each bucket following thedischarge operation to be described.

Buckets transferred onto front transfer table by turn table 18 areconveyed towards weighing station 16 by an endless belt conveyor 60,which is trained about table supported drive and idler roll 61, 62,respectively. Drive roller 61 may be drivingly coupled to motor 27 bytransmission means, not shown.

Intermediate the ends of belt conveyor 60, there is provided a rotarytimer 65, which is adapted to momentarily arrest movement of buckets 10,as the latter are moved towards weighing station 16. Timer 65, which isdescribed in detail in my prior US. Pat. No. 2,907,443, is shown forpurposes of reference in FIG. 6 as including four bucket arrestingblades 66a-66bq, which are mounted for rotation with vertically risingshaft 67; a geneva driver 68, which is carried on drive shaft 69; and ageneva gear follower 70, which is coupled to shaft 67 by miter gear 71.Drive shaft 69 is adapted to be continuously driven by suitable means,such as electric motor 27. The above arrangement is such that duringeach full rotation of drive shaft 69, follower 70 is actuated by genevadriver 68 so as to drive blade supporting shaft 67 through a quarterrotation in the direction indicated by arrow 72. Thus, each time shaft69 is driven, one of the bucket arresting blades, e.g., blade 66a, isremoved from its position shown in FIG. 6 wherein it is disposedtransversely of conveyor 60, in order to release a bucket for movementwith conveyor 60 towards weighing station 16, and is replaced by anadjacent blade, e.g., 66d, for the purpose of arresting movement of afollowing bucket.

Adjacent the discharge end of conveyor 60 there is positioned a pair ofbelt drive devices 74, 75, which are spaced transversely of conveyor 60and adapted to snugly engage sidewalls 30, 31, respectively, of buckets10 at points beneath carrier bars 37, 38. Drive devices 74, 75, aresuitably coupled to electric motor 27 for movement at the same linearspeed as conveyor 60 and are adapted to cooperate with the latter toinsure proper positioning or alignment of buckets 10, as the buckets areintroduced into weighing station 16.

A photoelectric eye device 77 is positioned immediately above belt drivedevice 74, 75 for the purpose of sensing the presence of buckets 10prior to the feeding thereof into the weighing station. As will be morefully hereinafter described, when the light beam of photoelectric deviceis broken by the presence of one of buckets 10, weighing of a precedingbucket in the weighing station is initiated.

Weighing station 16 includes a flat surfaced scale or weighing platform80, which is suitably supported immediately adjacent the outlet end ofbelt conveyor 60 for slight vertical movement in accordance with theweight of a bucket and/or bucket and contents placed thereon. Platform80 carries a pair of transversely spaced deformable spring plates 82,83, which cooperate to form a guide for buckets 10 moving onto and offof platform 80 and to resiliently arrest forward movement of the bucketsafter the latter have been moved onto platform 80 by conveyor 60 andbelt drive devices 74, 75.

Referring to FIG. 5, it will be understood that weight-induced verticaldeflections of platform 80 are adapted to be sensed by a suitable weightmeasuring and indicating device, which is generally designated as 85.Device 85, which forms no part of the present invention, may be of thegeneral type discussed in my copending patent application Ser. No.647,748, filed June 21, 1967, wherein a linearly variable differentialtransformer, not shown, is adapted to produce an electrical outputsignal, which is proportional to the weight-induced deflection ofplatform 80; such signal being passed to a plurality of optical meters,also not shown. The optical meters may be housed within a suitablecontrol panel 86 shown only in FIG. I.

The number of optical meters provided for any given machine correspondsto one-half the maximum number of weight classes or ranges into whicharticles 12 are to be classifted or divided; each meter having twoindividually adjustable control points to permit adjustment of theweight variation within any desired weight class. Each of the opticalmeters is adapted to produce an output signal whenever the transformeroutput signal indicates that an article being weighed is within theweight range for which one of the control points of such meter haspreviously been set, which serves to control setting of a mechanicalmemory unit, generally designated as 90, in the manner hereinafter to bedescribed. Mechanical memory unit 90 in turn serves to record theweights of the weighed articles, or more accurately the weight classinto which the article falls, and to subsequently control operation of abucket-dumping mechanism, generally designated as in FIG. 5, such thatweighed articles are dumped at various points along the classifyingstation 17 in accordance with their previously measured weights.

For purposes of reference only, machine 1 will be described as beingcapable of classifying articles 12 into a maximum of eight separateweight classes. In this instance, four optical meters would be providedwherein each of the two control points thereof are adjusted to beresponsive to different portions of the range or magnitude of outputsignal produced by the weighing transducer, and when responsive isadapted to effect setting of mechanical memory unit 90. This may beaccomplished, as indicated in FIG. 5 in the case of a first controlpoint of a first of such optical meters by employing its output signal,after momentary delay thereof, by timer 96a, to control solenoidoperated valve 97a, which in turn serves to control operation ofpneumatic memory unit setting cylinder 98a having a piston rod 99a. Byreferring to FIG. 4, it will be understood that in the machineembodiment illustrated, there are provided eight solenoid operatedvalves 97a-97h and eight memory unit setting cylinders 98a-98h, whichare paired for operation with individual optical meters. Thus, theoptical meters serve to detect into which of the eight weight classesthe article being weighed falls and set the memory unit accordingly.

Mechanical memory unit 90 is best shown in FIGS. 4-6 as including, inaddition to setting cylinders 981 -98h, a rotatably supported drumcarrier 100, on which are supported rows of memory pins 101-109 arrangedin an equally spaced relationship annularly of drum a memory pincancelling bar and memory pin sensing microswitches 111-118. The memorypins of each of rows 101-109, which are designated a-h, are arranged ina spaced-apart relationship axially of drum 100, such that therespective pins of each of the rows are aligned in columns annularly ofthe drum. For purposes of reference, it will be assumed that when anyone of pins 101a-109a is set, such pin serves to indicate that a weighedarticle is in a minimum or first class, whereas pins 101h-109h when setserve to indicate that weighed articles are in the maximum or eighthweight class.

Cancelling bar 110 is carried by piston rod 121 of pneumaticallyoperated cancel cylinder 122 for reciprocation radially of drum 100, asindicated by arrow 123 in FIG. 4. As will be clear by referring to FIG.6, cancel cylinder 122 is controlled by solenoid-operated valve 124,which in turn is under the control of a microswitch 125. Microswitch 125is adapted to be actuated by cam 126 once during each rotational cycleof drive shaft 69.

Since the structure and mode of operation of pins l01a-l09 h isidentical, only pin 102a, shown in detail in FIGS. 7a7b, need bedescribed. Pin 102a includes a stem portion 130, which terminates at oneend thereof in an enlarged head portion 131, which is engageable bycancelling bar 110, and is provided adjacent the other end thereof,which is engageable by piston rod 990, with an annular slot recess 132,adapted to receive a snap clip retainer 133. Stem portion 130 isreceived for snug fit sliding engagement within a bearing member 134,which is provided at one end thereof with a radially extending annularflange abutment and at its other end with an annular slot recess 136adapted to receive a snap clip retainer 137. It will be apparent thatflange abutment 135 and retainer 137 cooperate to lock bearing 134 inplace within an aperture 140, which extends radially between the innerand outer cylinder walls of drum carrier 100. It will be furtherapparent that pin head portion 131 cooperates with the radially outerend of bearing 134 and pin retainer 133 cooperates with flange abutment135, so as to limit radial travel of pin 1020 between retracted cancel"and extended memory portions shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b, respectively.

By referring to FIG. 6 it will be understood that carrier drum 100 isdrivingly coupled to cam follower 70 of rotary timer-65 by a chain linkdrive 142, such that each time the follower 70 is actuated, drum 100 isrotated to position one of the pin rows 101-109 in a setting andcancelling station, wherein the pins of such row are disposed incollective radial alignment with cancelling bar 110 and in individualradial alignment with setting cylinder piston rods 99a-99h. Thus, thearrangement is such as to require nine full rotations of drive shaft 69to move the rows of pins, as for instance row 101, in a stepwise mannerin the direction indicated by arrow 145 through eight pin-sensingstations defined by microswitches 111-11 in order to return such row toits original position at the setting and cancelling station.

When one of pin rows 101-109, as for instance row 101 is moved intoposition beneath cancelling bar 110, reciprocation of the cancelling bartowards drum 110 will serve to force any or all of pins 101a-101h intotheir retracted or cancel positions, such as shown in the case of pin102a in FIG. 7a. Thereafter, when one of setting cylinders 98a-98h is isactuated in accordance with the weight of a bucket and/or a bucket andits contents measured in weighing station 16, its piston is extended soas to force the pin disposed in radial alignment therewith into itsextended or memory" position. For purposes of illustration, pins 102d,103b, 104q, 105a, 106d, 107b, 1080, 109a are shown in FIG. 4 as beingdisposed in their memory positions; such having been effected byoperation of cylinders 98a-98h in the sequence 98d, 98b, 98g, 98a, 98d,98b, 98c, 98a.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, it will be seen that theannular spacing of rnicroswitches 111-118 in the direction of drumrotation corresponds to the spacing between adjacent rows of pins102-109, and that such rnicroswitches are equally spaced apartlengthwise of drum 100 in radial alignment with corresponding columns ofaligned pins 101a-109a through 101h-l09h, respectively. Thus, it will beapparent that when for instance any of pins l0la-l09a is in its memoryposition, microswitch 111 will be actuated when drum 100 is rotated toposition such pin in radial alignment therewith.

It will be understood that the number of pin-sensing rnicroswitchesprovided in a given memory unit will correspond to the maximum number ofmemory pins in each row of pins, which will in turn depend upon themaximum number of weight classes into which articles 12 are to bedivided. Preferably, the number of rows of memory pins will be onegreater than the number of weight classes in order to provide a separatepin cancelling and setting station so as not to interfere with sensingof the pins.

Classifying station 17 includes a pair of parallel, chain link endlessconveyors 150, 151, which are trained about a pair of axially aligneddrive sprockets 152, 153 and a pair of axially aligned idler sprockets154, 155, respectively. Drive sprockets 152, 153 may be suitably coupledto electric motor 27, such that conveyors 150, 151 may be continuouslydriven at a linear speed corresponding to that of conveyor 60.

By reference to FIGS. 1-3, it will be understood that conveyors 150, 151are positioned such that they may frictionally engage beneath thehorizontal flange portions 39, 40 of bucket carrier bars 37, 38,respectively, for the purpose of supporting the buckets as the latterare transferred by the conveyors from scale plafiorm 80 to turn table19. It will be understood that a bucket after having been weighed onplatform 80 is forced or pushed therefrom onto conveyors 150, 151 by thenext succeeding bucket, which in turn is forced onto platform byoperation of conveyor belt 60 and belt drive devices 74, 75.

Positioned beneath and intermediate conveyors 150, 151 is dumpingmechanism 95, which includes a guide rail device adapted to slideablyengage with the lower surface of the bottom wall of each bucket as thelatter is moved through station 17. It will be understood that thevertical spacing between guide rail device 160 and conveyors 150, 151 issuch that the former merely serves to maintain the bucket bottom wallsin substantially closed position when in engagement therewith, while thelatter supports the buckets during transfer through station 17.

Guide rail device 160 includes a series of stationary, axially spacedguide rail element 161, which are suitably fixed to transport table 15,and a plurality of movable guide rail elements 162a-162h, which arecarried on piston shafts 163a-163h of pneumatically operated cylinders164a-164h, respectively, and positioned in an interspaced relation withstationary rail elements 161. Pneumatic cylinders l64a-164h, which forma part of dumping mechanism 95, are adapted to be individually operatedin order to reciprocate guide rail elements 162a-162h transversely ofthe path of travel of conveyors 150, 151, as best shown in the case ofpneumatic cylinder 164b in FIGS. 1 and 3.

It will be understood that when the movable guide rails 162a-162h aremoved into the position indicated by guide rail element 162b, they areremoved from supporting engagement with bucket bottom wall 34, therebypermitting the latter to fall by gravity into an open position and thetransported article to be discharged from the bucket. Bucket bottom wall34 thereafter remains in open position until raised to a closed positionby sliding engagement with inclined cam ramp disposed adjacent theoutlet end of station 17.

By reference to FIG. 5 it will be understood the operation of cylinders164a-l64h is controlled by rnicroswitches 111-118 respectively, viasuitable timer and flow control valve means indicated, respectively, as172b and 174b in the case of cylinder 1641). Thus, it will be understoodthat rail elements l62a-162h are provided one for each of the weightclasses into which articles 12 are to be classified; wherein forpurposes of illustration only, rail element 162a corresponds to thefirst or lightweight class and 162k corresponds to the eighth weightclass.

While any suitable means may be employed to catch or receive thedischarged articles, it is preferable to employ a plurality of endlessbelt type takeoff conveyors a-l80h, which are positioned beneath and inalignment with movable rail guide elements 162a-162h, respectively.Preferably, conveyors 180a-180h are driven by an arrangement includingdrive devices 182a-l82h, shown in the case of device 1801: as includinga continuously driven motor 184b and a clutch 186b. Operation of clutch18617 is controlled by fluid cylinder 188b, which is in turn controlledby valve 174b. Thus, each time one of rnicroswitches 112-118 isactuated, an associated cylinder 164 is actuated to move one of railelements 162 and an associated cylinder 188 is actuated for the purposeof engaging its clutch 186 and thus elTecting driving of conveyor 180.This arrangement results in stepwise driving of the article receivingconveyors through a distance sufficient to remove an article previouslydeposited thereon from beneath buckets 10 in order to prevent contactthereof with a subsequently discharged article, and afiords an articleresidence time on the takeoff conveyors sufficient to permit visualinspection of the articles.

In describing the operation of the apparatus of the present invention,it will be assumed that a first article containing bucket is initiallydisposed on weighing plafiorm 80, and that a second bucket whose path isto be followed for purposes of description is being conveyed by conveyor60 after having been released by rotary timer 65. The second bucket isfirst brought into association with drive devices 74, 75, whichthereafter cooperate with conveyor 60 to force the second bucket ontoplatform 80 and thereby displace the first bucket therefrom. Immediatelybefore the second bucket reaches platform 80 its presence is sensed byphotoelectric eye device 77, which thereupon serves to initiate weighingof the first bucket.

The second bucket remains on platform 80 until displaced therefrom by athird bucket. Simultaneously with the release of such third bucket byrotary timer 65, drum 100 is indexed, via chain link drive 142, toposition, as for example, the pins of row 101 at the setting andcancelling station. Immediately thereafter, continued rotation of driveshaft 69 brings cam 126 into engagement with microswitch 125, wherebycylinder 122 is operated to reciprocate cancelling bar 110 to insurethat the pins 101a-10lh of row 101 are disposed in their retracted orcancel positions.

When the presence of the third bucket is sensed by photoelectric eyedevice 77, weighing of the second bucket is initiated. For purposes ofillustration, it will be assumed that the article contained within thesecond bucket falls with the second of eight weight classes. Thus, theoptical meter associated with the second weight class serves to producean output signal, which in turn effects operation of second weight classsetting cylinder 98b. Upon operation of setting cylinder 9812, memorypin 101b is driven into its extended or memory position, therebytemporarily recording the weight or the weight class into which thearticle carried by the second bucket falls. Immediately thereafter, thesecond bucket is forced off platform 80 by the third bucket ontoconveyors 150, 151 for travel through station 17 with the bottom wallthereof being maintained in a closed condition by sliding engagementwith the first of the series of stationary guide rail elements 161.

Upon the release of a fourth bucket, drum 100 is again indexed so as toposition row of pins 101 at the first pin-sensing station, whereat it isdisposed in radial alignment with microswitch 111. Microswitch 111,however, is not operated, since it is spaced from pin 101b in adirection lengthwise of drum 100. Accordingly, movable rail element 1620is maintained in alignment with adjacent stationary rail elements 161,and serves to support the bottom wall of the second bucket in closedcondition.

Simultaneous with the release of a fifth bucket, drum 100 is againindexed, so as to position row of pins 101 at the second pin sensingstation, whereat pin l01b engages microswitch 112 to effect operationthereof. As a result, cylinder 164b is actuated to move rail element162b out of alignment with its adjacent stationary rail elements andcylinder l88b is actuated to efiect driving of article takeoff conveyor18%. Removal of rail element 162b from alignment with stationary railelements 161 permits second bucket bottom wall 34 to pivot downwardlyinto an open position and transported article 12 to be discharged bygravity onto conveyor 18%. Second bucket bottom wall remains in openposition until engaged by cam ramp 170 adjacent the outlet of station17.

It will be understood that timer l72b serves to control the period oftime during which cylinders 164 and 188 remain actuated, it beingnecessary to return rail element 162!) to its original position beforepassage thereover of the third bucket.

It will be understood that in order to insure proper discharging ofarticles at the individual discharging points, defined by rail elements162a-162h, it is necessary that the dwell time during which drum 100remains in one of its indexed positions, be equal to or less than thetime required for buckets to be transferred between adjacent dischargingpoints, Thus, for a constant drum dwell-time, if it is desired toincrease the spacing between discharging points, it would be necessaryto effect a corresponding increase in the linear speed of conveyors 150,151.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for weight-classifying odd-shaped articles including incombination:

a plurality of article-carrying buckets having an open top and a bottomwall movable between bucket bottom closing and open positions, saidbottom wall being adapted to support an article to be classified withinsaid bucket when in said closing position and permitting gravitydischarge of an article from said bucket when moved to said openposition, said buckets each being of substantially the same weight;

means to transport said buckets one at a time successively along a pathof travel such that said bucket bottom walls are normally maintained insaid closed position;

a weighing station arranged along said path of travel, said weighingstation including means to determine the weights of articles carried byeach of said successively transported buckets;

memory means, said memory means being settable in accordance with saiddetermined weights; and

a discharge classifying station arranged along said path of traveldownstream of said weighing station, said classify ing station includingdischarge means arranged at points spaced apart along said path oftravel, said discharge means being individually actuated in accordancewith settings of said memory means, said discharge means when actuatedpermitting movement of said bucket bottom walls to open position,whereby said articles are discharged from said buckets at said spacedpoints in accordance with said detennined weights thereof.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transporting meansdefines a closed loop path of travel for said buckets, and means isprovided to retum said bucket bottom walls to closed position, at apoint downstream of said discharge classifying station along said pathof travel.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there is additionallyprovided in combination:

takeoff conveyors provided one adjacent each of said spaced points forreceipt of articles discharged from said buckets and means to drive saidconveyors in a stepwise fashion, said drive means being controlled bysaid memory means such that said conveyors are individually driven inaccordance with which of said spaced points an article is to bedischarged, whereby contact is prevented between articles successivelydischarged at the same spaced point onto the same conveyor.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said bucket includesa pair of carrier bars carried one on each of a pair of sidewallsthereof aligned with said path of travel, said weighing station includesa vertically deflectable weighing platform, said platform being adaptedto support said buckets one at a time such that said bottom wall thereofis maintained in bottom closed position, said transporting meansincludes first conveyor means adapted to transport said buckets withbottom walls thereof in closed position one at a time onto saidplatform, a pair of parallel conveyors extending from adjacent saidweighing platform through said classifying station and a bottom guidemeans extending through said classifying station intermediate saidparallel conveyors, said first conveyor means being adapted to transporta bucket onto said weighing platform such that a bucket previouslydisposed thereon is forced by said transported bucket onto said parallelconveyors with said bucket carrier bars being supportedly engagedthereby, said bottom guide means including stationary guide elements andmovable guide elements, said movable guide elements when in a firstposition aligned with said stationary elements cooperate therewith toslidably engage said bucket bottom walls so as to maintain same inclosed position, said discharge means being associated one with each ofsaid movable elements such that when said discharge means are actuatedsaid movable elements are moved out of alignment with said stationaryelements into a second position out of sliding engagement with saidbucket bottom walls, thereby permitting the bottom wall of a bucket tomove into open position when said parallel conveyors carry said bucketto a point along said path of travel at which said article is to bedischarged in accordance with the determined weight thereof.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said transporting meansdefines a closed loop path of travel for said buckets, and means areprovided to return said bucket bottom walls to closed position at apoint downstream of said discharge classifying station along said pathof travel.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said buckettransportingmeans additionally includes second conveyor means arranged parallel tosaid first conveyor means and said parallel conveyors, and a pair ofturn tables, said turn tables connecting opposite ends of said secondconveyor means to said first conveyor means and to said parallelconveyors.

7. An apparatus for weight-classifying odd-shaped articles into N weightclasses comprising in combination:

a plurality of article-carrying buckets having an open top and a bottomwall movable between bucket bottom closing an open positions, saidbottom wall being adapted to support an article to be classified withinsaid bucket when in said closing position permitting gravity dischargeof an article from said bucket when moved into said open position, saidbuckets each being of substantially the same weight;

means to transport said buckets one at a time along a closed loop pathsuccessively through a bucket filling station, a bucket and contentsweighing station and a discharge classifying station;

weighing means associated with said weight station, said weighing meansbeing adapted when a filled bucket is presented at said weighing stationto determine into which of said N weight classes an article carried insaid present bucket falls;

memory means, said memory means being settable in accordance with saiddetermined weight classes of articles carried by successively presentedbuckets;

N discharge means associated with said classifying station, saiddischarge means being arranged at equally spaced apart points lengthwiseof said classifying station along said path of travel, said dischargemeans defining N discharge points at which said weighed articles are tobe selectively discharged from said buckets in accordance with saiddetermined weight classes, said discharge means being individuallyactuated in accordance with setting of said memory means so as to permitmovement of said bucket bottom walls to open position, whereby saidarticles are discharged from said buckets at said spaced points inaccordance with said determined weight classes thereof.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein there is further providedin combination:

a rotary timer;

drive means, said drive means being adapted to drive said rotary timersuch as to release one bucket at a time for transfer to said weighingstation; and

means to sense release of said bucket by said rotary timer, said sensingmeans being operable to initiate operation of said weighing means suchthat the weight class of an article carried by a bucket previouslypositioned at said weighing station is detennined, said released bucketbeing thereafter adapted to be transferred into said weighing stationand during transfer thereof force said previously positioned bucket intosaid discharge classifying station for transfer therethrough;

said memory means includes a rotatably supported memory drum having aplurality of memory elements, said memory elements being normally in acancelled condition but being settable in a memory condition, saidmemory elements being arranged in at least N rows of memory elements,said rows of memory elements being equally spaced apart annularly ofsaid drum, each of said N rows of memory elements including N memoryelements arranged in spaced relationship axially of said drum such thatthe respective memory elements of each of said N rows are aligned incolumns annularly of said drum, said drum being rotatably driven in astepwise manner by said drive means so as to index each of said rowssuccessively through a memory-setting and N memory-elementsensingstations arranged annularly of said drum, N memory-element-setting meansselectively operable by said weighing means when one of said rows isplaced in said memory-setting station to set one of said memory elementsof said placed row in its memory condition so as to store an input insaid placed row which is characteristic of the detennined weight classof an article carried by said previously positioned bucket, memoryelement sensing means disposed one at each of said sensing stations,said element-sensing means being spaced apart axially of said drum inalignment one with each of said columns such that each of saidelement-sensing means is adapted to produce an output when one of saidmemory elements set in memory condition is indexed into radial alignmenttherewith, said element-sensing means being associated one with each ofsaid discharge means, said discharge means being operable in response tosaid outputs, and memory-element-cancelling means, said cancelling meansbeing operative to return said memory elements to said cancelledcondition after indexing thereof through said sensing stations, saiddrum and cancelling means being coupled to said drive means such thatsaid cancelling means and drum are driven in synchronization with saidrotary timer, whereby when rotary timer is operated to release a bucketas aforesaid, said drum is indexed to place a first of said N rows inposition at said setting position and said cancelling means operated,upon sensing of said released bucket said weighing means is operated anda memory element of said placed row is set in accordance with thedetermined weight class of an article in said previously positionedbucket, and upon release of the next succeeding bucket, said drum isrotated to position said first of said N rows in a first of saidelementsensing stations.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each said bucket includesa pair of carrier bars carried one on each of a pair of sidewallsthereof aligned with said path of travel, said weighing station includesa vertically deflectable weighing platform, said weighing means beingresponsive to vertical deflections of said platform, said platform beingadapted to support said buckets one at a time such that said bottom wallthereof is maintained in bottom closed position, said transporting meansincludes first conveyor means adapted to transport said buckets withbottom walls thereof in closed position one at a time past said rotarytimer and release sensing means onto said platform, a pair of parallelconveyors extending from adjacent said weighing platform through saidclassifying station and a bottom guide means extending through saidclassifying station intermediate said parallel conveyors, said firstconveyor means being adapted to transport a released bucket onto saidweighing platform such that a bucket previously disposed thereon isforced by said released bucket onto said parallel conveyors with saidbucket carrier bars being supportedly engaged thereby, said bottom guidemeans including stationary guide elements and movable guide elements,said movable guide elements when in a first position aligned with saidstationary elements cooperate therewith to slidably engage said bucketbottom walls so as to maintain same in closed position, said dischargemeans being associated one with each of said movable elements such thatwhen said discharge means are actuated said movable elements are movedout of alignment with said stationary elements into a second positionout of sliding engagement with said bucket bottom walls, therebypermitting the bottom wall of a bucket to move into open position whensaid parallel conveyors carry said bucket to a point along said path oftravel at which said article is to be discharged in accordance with thedetermined weight class thereof.

10. An article-carrying bucket for use in combination with apparatusadapted to classify articles on a weight basis, said apparatus includingconveyor means to transport said bucket successively through a fillingstation at which an article to be weighed may be placed in said bucket,a weighing station at which said bucket and article carried thereby isadapted to be weighed and a discharge classifying station at which theweighed article is adapted to be discharged from said bucket, saidbucket comprising:

a pair of spaced sidewalls;

spaced front and rear walls, said front and rear walls being edge joinedto said sidewalls to form a generally rectangular bucket having an opentop and bottom;

a bottom wall hingedly joined to one of said sidewall along adjacentmarginal edges thereof for vertical pivotal movement between bucketbottom closing and opening positions, said bottom wall being adapted tobe alternately engaged and disengaged by said apparatus such that whenengaged it is maintained in a bucket bottom closing position wherein itis adapted to support an article within said bucket and when disengagedpivots vertically into said bucket bottom opening position to permitgravity discharge of said supported article;

a pair of carrier bars carried one on each of said sidewalls and adaptedto be supportingly engaged by said apparatus so as to support of saidbucket at least when said bottom wall is disengaged by said apparatus;and

means for adjusting the tare weight of said bucket.

11. An article-carrying bucket according to claim 10, wherein saidadjustment means includes a pair of receivers carried one adjacent eachof said sidewalls each said receiver defining a recess adapted toremovably receive a plurality of metal shot, and means to retain saidshot within the receses defined by said receivers such that the tareweight of said bucket may be varied by varying the number of shot insaid recesses.

12. An article-carrying bucket according to claim 10, wherein a marginalend of said bottom wall spaced from said hingedly joined marginal edgethereof is adapted to supportingly engage the other of said sidewallsspaced from said one sidewall when said bottom wall is engaged asaforesaid, whereby said bottom wall when in closed position is adaptedto support said side, front and rear bucket walls.

13. An article-carrying bucket according to claim 12, wherein front andrear edge portions of said bottom wall are upturned and ten'ninatinginwardly of said bucket front and rear walls when said bottom wall is inclosed position.

i I? t 8 k

1. An apparatus for weight-classifying odd-shaped articles including incombination: a plurality of article-carrying buckets having an open topand a bottom wall movable between bucket bottom closing and openpositions, said bottom wall being adapted to support an article to beclassified within said bucket when in said closing position andpermitting gravity discharge of an article from said bucket when movedto said open position, said buckets each being of substantially the sameweight; means to transport said buckets one at a time successively alonga path of travel such that said bucket bottom walls are normallymaintained in said closed position; a weighing station arranged alongsaid path of travel, said weighing station including means to determinethe weights of articles carried by each of said successively transportedbuckets; memory means, said memory means being settable in accordancewith said determined weights; and a discharge classifying stationarranged along said path of travel downstream of said weighing station,said classifying station including discharge means arranged at pointsspaced apart along said path of travel, said discharge means beingindividually actuated in accordance with settings of said memory means,said discharge means when actuated permitting movement of said bucketbottom walls to open position, whereby said articles are discharged fromsaid buckets at said spaced points in accordaNce with said determinedweights thereof.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidtransporting means defines a closed loop path of travel for saidbuckets, and means is provided to return said bucket bottom walls toclosed position, at a point downstream of said discharge classifyingstation along said path of travel.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1,wherein there is additionally provided in combination: takeoff conveyorsprovided one adjacent each of said spaced points for receipt of articlesdischarged from said buckets and means to drive said conveyors in astepwise fashion, said drive means being controlled by said memory meanssuch that said conveyors are individually driven in accordance withwhich of said spaced points an article is to be discharged, wherebycontact is prevented between articles successively discharged at thesame spaced point onto the same conveyor.
 4. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein each said bucket includes a pair of carrier barscarried one on each of a pair of sidewalls thereof aligned with saidpath of travel, said weighing station includes a vertically deflectableweighing platform, said platform being adapted to support said bucketsone at a time such that said bottom wall thereof is maintained in bottomclosed position, said transporting means includes first conveyor meansadapted to transport said buckets with bottom walls thereof in closedposition one at a time onto said platform, a pair of parallel conveyorsextending from adjacent said weighing platform through said classifyingstation and a bottom guide means extending through said classifyingstation intermediate said parallel conveyors, said first conveyor meansbeing adapted to transport a bucket onto said weighing platform suchthat a bucket previously disposed thereon is forced by said transportedbucket onto said parallel conveyors with said bucket carrier bars beingsupportedly engaged thereby, said bottom guide means includingstationary guide elements and movable guide elements, said movable guideelements when in a first position aligned with said stationary elementscooperate therewith to slidably engage said bucket bottom walls so as tomaintain same in closed position, said discharge means being associatedone with each of said movable elements such that when said dischargemeans are actuated said movable elements are moved out of alignment withsaid stationary elements into a second position out of slidingengagement with said bucket bottom walls, thereby permitting the bottomwall of a bucket to move into open position when said parallel conveyorscarry said bucket to a point along said path of travel at which saidarticle is to be discharged in accordance with the determined weightthereof.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said transportingmeans defines a closed loop path of travel for said buckets, and meansare provided to return said bucket bottom walls to closed position at apoint downstream of said discharge classifying station along said pathof travel.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein saidbucket-transporting means additionally includes second conveyor meansarranged parallel to said first conveyor means and said parallelconveyors, and a pair of turn tables, said turn tables connectingopposite ends of said second conveyor means to said first conveyor meansand to said parallel conveyors.
 7. An apparatus for weight-classifyingodd-shaped articles into N weight classes comprising in combination: aplurality of article-carrying buckets having an open top and a bottomwall movable between bucket bottom closing and open positions, saidbottom wall being adapted to support an article to be classified withinsaid bucket when in said closing position and permitting gravitydischarge of an article from said bucket when moved into said openposition, said buckets each being of substantially the same weight;means to transport said buckets one at a time aloNg a closed loop pathsuccessively through a bucket filling station, a bucket and contentsweighing station and a discharge classifying station; weighing meansassociated with said weight station, said weighing means being adaptedwhen a filled bucket is presented at said weighing station to determineinto which of said N weight classes an article carried in said presentedbucket falls; memory means, said memory means being settable inaccordance with said determined weight classes of articles carried bysuccessively presented buckets; N discharge means associated with saidclassifying station, said discharge means being arranged at equallyspaced apart points lengthwise of said classifying station along saidpath of travel, said discharge means defining N discharge points atwhich said weighed articles are to be selectively discharged from saidbuckets in accordance with said determined weight classes, saiddischarge means being individually actuated in accordance with settingof said memory means so as to permit movement of said bucket bottomwalls to open position, whereby said articles are discharged from saidbuckets at said spaced points in accordance with said determined weightclasses thereof.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein there isfurther provided in combination: a rotary timer; drive means, said drivemeans being adapted to drive said rotary timer such as to release onebucket at a time for transfer to said weighing station; and means tosense release of said bucket by said rotary timer, said sensing meansbeing operable to initiate operation of said weighing means such thatthe weight class of an article carried by a bucket previously positionedat said weighing station is determined, said released bucket beingthereafter adapted to be transferred into said weighing station andduring transfer thereof force said previously positioned bucket intosaid discharge classifying station for transfer therethrough; saidmemory means includes a rotatably supported memory drum having aplurality of memory elements, said memory elements being normally in acancelled condition but being settable in a memory condition, saidmemory elements being arranged in at least N rows of memory elements,said rows of memory elements being equally spaced apart annularly ofsaid drum, each of said N rows of memory elements including N memoryelements arranged in spaced relationship axially of said drum such thatthe respective memory elements of each of said N rows are aligned incolumns annularly of said drum, said drum being rotatably driven in astepwise manner by said drive means so as to index each of said rowssuccessively through a memory-setting and N memory-element-sensingstations arranged annularly of said drum, N memory-element-setting meansselectively operable by said weighing means when one of said rows isplaced in said memory-setting station to set one of said memory elementsof said placed row in its memory condition so as to store an input insaid placed row which is characteristic of the determined weight classof an article carried by said previously positioned bucket, memoryelement sensing means disposed one at each of said sensing stations,said element-sensing means being spaced apart axially of said drum inalignment one with each of said columns such that each of saidelement-sensing means is adapted to produce an output when one of saidmemory elements set in memory condition is indexed into radial alignmenttherewith, said element-sensing means being associated one with each ofsaid discharge means, said discharge means being operable in response tosaid outputs, and memory-element-cancelling means, said cancelling meansbeing operative to return said memory elements to said cancelledcondition after indexing thereof through said sensing stations, saiddrum and cancelling means being coupled to said drive means such thatsaid cancelling means and drum are driven in synchronization with saidrOtary timer, whereby when rotary timer is operated to release a bucketas aforesaid, said drum is indexed to place a first of said N rows inposition at said setting position and said cancelling means operated,upon sensing of said released bucket said weighing means is operated anda memory element of said placed row is set in accordance with thedetermined weight class of an article in said previously positionedbucket, and upon release of the next succeeding bucket, said drum isrotated to position said first of said N rows in a first of saidelement-sensing stations.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 8, whereineach said bucket includes a pair of carrier bars carried one on each ofa pair of sidewalls thereof aligned with said path of travel, saidweighing station includes a vertically deflectable weighing platform,said weighing means being responsive to vertical deflections of saidplatform, said platform being adapted to support said buckets one at atime such that said bottom wall thereof is maintained in bottom closedposition, said transporting means includes first conveyor means adaptedto transport said buckets with bottom walls thereof in closed positionone at a time past said rotary timer and release sensing means onto saidplatform, a pair of parallel conveyors extending from adjacent saidweighing platform through said classifying station and a bottom guidemeans extending through said classifying station intermediate saidparallel conveyors, said first conveyor means being adapted to transporta released bucket onto said weighing platform such that a bucketpreviously disposed thereon is forced by said released bucket onto saidparallel conveyors with said bucket carrier bars being supportedlyengaged thereby, said bottom guide means including stationary guideelements and movable guide elements, said movable guide elements when ina first position aligned with said stationary elements cooperatetherewith to slidably engage said bucket bottom walls so as to maintainsame in closed position, said discharge means being associated one witheach of said movable elements such that when said discharge means areactuated said movable elements are moved out of alignment with saidstationary elements into a second position out of sliding engagementwith said bucket bottom walls, thereby permitting the bottom wall of abucket to move into open position when said parallel conveyors carrysaid bucket to a point along said path of travel at which said articleis to be discharged in accordance with the determined weight classthereof.
 10. An article-carrying bucket for use in combination withapparatus adapted to classify articles on a weight basis, said apparatusincluding conveyor means to transport said bucket successively through afilling station at which an article to be weighed may be placed in saidbucket, a weighing station at which said bucket and article carriedthereby is adapted to be weighed and a discharge classifying station atwhich the weighed article is adapted to be discharged from said bucket,said bucket comprising: a pair of spaced sidewalls; spaced front andrear walls, said front and rear walls being edge joined to saidsidewalls to form a generally rectangular bucket having an open top andbottom; a bottom wall hingedly joined to one of said sidewalls alongadjacent marginal edges thereof for vertical pivotal movement betweenbucket bottom closing and opening positions, said bottom wall beingadapted to be alternately engaged and disengaged by said apparatus suchthat when engaged it is maintained in a bucket bottom closing positionwherein it is adapted to support an article within said bucket and whendisengaged pivots vertically into said bucket bottom opening position topermit gravity discharge of said supported article; a pair of carrierbars carried one on each of said sidewalls and adapted to besupportingly engaged by said apparatus so as to support of said bucketat least when said bottom wall is disengagEd by said apparatus; andmeans for adjusting the tare weight of said bucket.
 11. Anarticle-carrying bucket according to claim 10, wherein said adjustmentmeans includes a pair of receivers carried one adjacent each of saidsidewalls, each said receiver defining a recess adapted to removablyreceive a plurality of metal shot, and means to retain said shot withinthe recesses defined by said receivers such that the tare weight of saidbucket may be varied by varying the number of shot in said recesses. 12.An article-carrying bucket according to claim 10, wherein a marginal endof said bottom wall spaced from said hingedly joined marginal edgethereof is adapted to supportingly engage the other of said sidewallsspaced from said one sidewall when said bottom wall is engaged asaforesaid, whereby said bottom wall when in closed position is adaptedto support said side, front and rear bucket walls.
 13. Anarticle-carrying bucket according to claim 12, wherein front and rearedge portions of said bottom wall are upturned and terminating inwardlyof said bucket front and rear walls when said bottom wall is in closedposition.